Nicola Willis is charmed by a night of wistful and epic folk music in an Oxford church 

  • Irregular Folk: Laura Moody & Yorkston/Thorne/Khan
  • St Barnabas Church, Oxford 

A couple of week's ago, some friends and I bypassed the pub and went to church instead. And, let me tell you, it was truly enlightening – being immersed in a night of Irregular Folk.

If you haven't heard of irregular folk then where have you been? Founder and magic-maker Vez Hoper repeatedly keeps pulling it out the bag with her independent and unique events.

With a keen eye for boundary-breaking music, beautiful environments and delicious local refreshments, her attention to detail is second to none. Even the artwork on artist Sarah Hoyle's posters are cool and original.

Tonight's venue, St Barnabas church is deep in Jericho. Fairy lights are strung around plinths, and the stage is low and close to the audience, creating an intimate, spiritual affair – with immense acoustics.

There were warm homemade sausage rolls by Hamzah Taynez the chef from the Chester arms, local ale from the loose cannon brewery and local lager from Bobby's Beers.

The night started with a local poet, George Chopping, who compered the artists while bringing his comedic charm to the proceedings. His finishing poem about living on a boat and his black comic fantasy of killing a line of rowers with fishing wire was hilarious.

The first act (my personal favourite) was Laura Moody a founding member of the Elysian Quartet, she has worked with such greats as Hot Chip, Goldie and toured with Bjork last year.

Her sound was something to behold. Using her voice and cello as percussion, coupled with her orchestral singing, yodelling and screaming, she created a world of sound – emotional, diverse and feminine. We hung onto her every word.

Her Vivaldi cover in softly whispered Italian sounded like an old-school Madonna track sung by Kate Bush.

Her self-deprecating charm and wit seeped through between songs. In a word: epic.

Next up was Yorkston/Thorne/Khan, an experimental folk band. Consisting of James Yorkston, a Scottish folk musician; Suhail Yusuf Khan, a sarangi player and classical singer from New Delhi; and Jon Thorne, a jazz double bass player (formerly of the band Lamb).

It was an eclectic, raw and personable mix of folk and Indian song with a bass line. Husky and calm they lost themselves in their own sound, Khan pulling what could have been standard folk music into something entirely different with his chanting and Indian singing. And what lovely chaps too: dropping in snippets of their lives together as friends and political beliefs. They were enchanting and worldly. If you get a chance to see them on tour, do!

It was all for the ridiculously reasonable price of £10. Irregular Folk nights always astound – and are well worth every penny.

5/5

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